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Peyton Hillis News & Rumors

Peyton Hillis agrees to terms with Kansas City Chiefs
March 15
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Former Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who endured a star-crossed Madden 12 Cover-cursed 2011 season, has agreed to terms with the Kansas City Chiefs, the team announced today. In Kansas City, Hillis will be reunited with his former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who now has that role in Kansas City. He'll also play for former Browns coach Romeo Crennel, the new Chiefs coach. Hillis agreed to a one-year deal worth $3 million, espn's Adam Schefter reported."
Cleveland Browns free agent Peyton Hillis will visit the Chiefs
March 14
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"would be reunited with former Browns offensive coordinator Brian Daboll, who has that job with the Chiefs. He'd also play for head coach Romeo Crennel, who once led the Browns. Under Daboll in 2010, Hillis had his breakout season, rushing for 1,177 yards and nine touchdowns and was second on the team with 61 receptions for 477 yards and two TDs. Daboll will undoubtedly push for a quick signing of Hillis. Hillis has said he'd like to stay in Cleveland, but it remains to be seen if the Browns will make him an offer. Browns GM Tom Heckert said last week he'd re-sign Hillis if the price was right. If the Browns don't re-sign Hillis, they'll likely look elsewhere for a running back, including"
Peyton Hillis visiting Kansas City
March 13
Pro Football Talk
 
"Peyton Hillis's new home could be in Kansas City. Hillis, the free agent Browns running back, will pay a visit to the Chiefs, Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer reports."
Report: Browns RB Peyton Hillis planning to rehire one of the agents he fired
March 7
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis has apparently offered an olive branch to one of the agents he fired by, well, planning to rehire him. Hillis is planning to hire Jimmy Sexton of Creative Artists Agency to represent him again, ProFootballTalk reported today. Agent Ben Dogra also will be involved in the representation of Hillis, according to the report."
Coach Pat Shurmur says Hillis never talked to him about retirement, CIA aspirations
March 2
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"If Peyton Hillis ever flirted with the idea of ending his professional football career to pursue a job as a secret agent, he never confided in Browns coach Pat Shurmur about it. Citing unnamed team sources, ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that Hillis told Browns coaches he was contemplating retirement as recently as the end of last season and even considered joining the CIA. It now looks as if Hillis, who recently parted ways with his third agent in the past year, will continue to play football, according to Schefter's report. "Peyton and I spoke frequently throughout the year and we never discussed any of those topics for sure," Shurmur said Thursday night during the Cleveland Auto Show at"
Peyton Hillis never mentioned retirement, CIA to Cleveland Browns coach Pat Shurmur
March 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur said Thursday that running back Peyton Hillis never told him he was contemplating retiring -- or considering a career in the CIA. ESPN's Adam Schefter reported that, according to a Browns source, Hillis told Browns coaches as recently as the end of the season that he was considering hanging it up and was pondering a CIA career during the season. "Really? That's news to me," said Shurmur at the Greater Cleveland Auto Show at the International Exposition Center in Cleveland. "I'm one of the coaches he didn't tell, obviously." Shurmur said he had frequent discussions with Hillis throughout the season, "and we never discussed any of those topics, for sure. Beyond that,"
Source: Peyton Hillis won't be tagged
March 1
ESPN.com
 
"The Browns have decided not to use their franchise tag on running back Peyton Hillis, according to a source familiar with the situation. Throughout the past season, Hillis has wavered about whether he wants to continue playing football, and even considered joining the CIA, according to team sources. It is unclear if he actually pursued a career with the CIA. Hillis told Browns coaches as recently as the end of the season that he was contemplating retirement, though it now looks as if he will continue playing, the sources said."
Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis parts ways with agent Kennard McGuire, his third agent in a year
March 1
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"On the eve of free agency, Browns running back Peyton Hillis has parted ways with his agent, Kennard McGuire, a league source confirmed for the Plain Dealer. It's the third agent Hillis has dumped in a year. The first two were Jimmy Sexton and Kelli Masters. The news was first reported by Josina Anderson of ESPN. Browns general manager Tom Heckert told Anderson today, "If we can work something out with Peyton (Hillis) we will. Did he have some rough patches during the season? Yes. Were there stretches where things were blown out of proportion? Yes. Honestly, I feel like a lot of that was blown up in the media. Now, of course things will still come down to the money, but we'll just have to"
Browns running back Peyton Hillis unlikely to be franchised, but team will try to re-sign him
February 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis, who had a tumultuous 2011 season, is unlikely to be franchised by the Browns. But they'll still try to re-sign him before he hits the open market March 13 at 4 p.m. Now that the Browns have signed linebacker D'Qwell Jackson to a five-year, $42.5 million deal, they can use the franchise tag on someone else. It's doubtful the Browns will use it at all, but if they do, they'd be more likely to use it on kicker Phil Dawson than Hillis."
Cleveland Browns have renewed interest in keeping Peyton Hillis?
January 31
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns would like to re-sign running back Peyton Hillis, who worked his way back into the team's good graces over the final six weeks of the season, a league source said. Hillis, who becomes an unrestricted free agent March 13, showed the Browns enough over the final six games -- both on and off the field -- that they'd like to have him back at the right price. The Browns can re-sign their own free agents at any time. General Manager Tom Heckert said at the end of the season that the Browns would talk to the agents for all of their free agents and hoped to re-sign some. He cited D'Qwell Jackson and kicker Phil Dawson as two the Browns would pursue."
An afterthought once again, has Peyton Hillis made his last run for the Cleveland Browns?
January 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bud Shaw
"So this is how it ends for Peyton Hillis? Folk hero to forgotten man? Cleveland civic cause one day, another relocation statistic the next? Hillis is gone to free agency after this season. No matter what they're saying, team and player have to be just about done with each other. They will agree to date around, see what else is out there, but I'm not sure either is banking on a reconciliation. "We'll see in the off-season what happens," Hillis said diplomatically. "It's a long process." In short, though, the contract he should've signed with the Browns, he'd now be lucky to get half of it. Hillis is gone and there's blame to go around. Mostly it's on him. Don't think of it as the Madden"
Peyton Hillis a believer in the 'Madden Curse'
December 30
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Forget everything Peyton Hillis has said and done this season. Well, most of it, at least. He'd appreciate if you didn't remember the public missteps he had with Browns management about his contract renegotiations, the medical advice he took from his agent to skip a game when he was sick, and the closed-door meeting he had with teammates who reached out to the foundering running back. And please, most of all, don't recall the many times Hillis proclaimed he doesn't believe in the Madden Curse. Because he does. "No doubt about it," Hillis finally admitted Thursday. "Things haven't worked to my favor this year. There's a few things that happened that made me believe in curses. Ain't no"
Browns' Hillis questionable with hip injury but expected to play
December 8
NFL.com
 
"Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis is expected to play in Thursday night's AFC North matchup against the Pittsburgh Steelers despite being listed as questionable with a hip injury, according to a league source. Hillis missed one series in Sunday's loss to the Baltimore Ravens and was limited in practice this week. As Browns coach Pat Shurmur alluded to Tuesday, quarterback Colt McCoy also will play Thursday after suffering a sprained right knee against the Ravens. McCoy missed only one play Sunday and has done everything he normally would during practice this week."
QB Colt McCoy, RB Peyton Hillis appear to be OK during team drills
December 7
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"The Browns (4-8) practiced today in preparation for their road game Thursday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers (9-3). Reporters were allowed to watch about 30 minutes of practice. Here's what you need to know about the open session: * Quarterback Colt McCoy wore a black sleeve on his sprained right knee. McCoy, who's pictured above and to the left, looked fine dropping back and moving during team drills. * Running back Peyton Hillis (hip) also looked all right as he participated in team drills. Hillis, who's pictured above and to the right, was limited in practice Monday."
Browns off to a limping start in short week before Thursday's Steelers game
December 6
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns will go limping into Pittsburgh on Thursday night, thanks to a quarterback with a gimpy knee and a running back with a strained hip. Coach Pat Shurmur said he expects Colt McCoy to play in Pittsburgh despite a sprained right knee suffered Sunday against the Ravens, but wasn't so optimistic about Peyton Hillis, who's "day-to-day" with the hip injury. McCoy was spotted limping Monday afternoon at the Berea facility while walking down some stairs. The Browns have only one full day of practice -- on Tuesday -- in preparation for Thursday's primetime game. "We'll just have to see," said Shurmur of McCoy. "[There's] no structural damage, and he's a little bit sore. He'll be"
Peyton Hillis, Josh Cribbs say they want to stay in Cleveland
December 2
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis erased all doubt as to where he believes his future lies. "I love Cleveland. I know there's always been some questions there," he said Thursday after practice. "I've always been a Clevelander in my heart. I love this place. I enjoy this team and I hope to be here." Seemingly at ease and adorned with campaign gear from presidential candidate Ron Paul — at the request of teammate Tony Pashos — Hillis appeared ready to take on the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. After missing five consecutive games due to a hamstring injury, the workhorse from last season gained 65 yards on 19 carries in last Sunday's 23-20 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. He confessed to some"
Hillis on Ravens' mind, but not in their memory
December 2
Baltimore Sun
 
"Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis didn't need to be on the cover of a video game to make an impression with Ravens fans. Many of them remember his 144-yard, one-touchdown outburst against the Ravens on Sept. 26, 2010 that resulted in a too-close-for-comfort 24-17 win for the Ravens. But at least one player said the defense has buried the memory of that performance. "Like I said, we put that behind us," defensive end Cory Redding said. "That was the first time we played them last season. It was early in the game, early in the year. We played them later on in the year, and we stopped him. And we put that behind us. Of course, you will go back and look at those games and see what"
Browns have a full stable of running backs available, including Peyton Hillis and Montario Hardesty
November 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis will be active today after missing five games, and most of a sixth, with a hamstring muscle injury. Hillis has not played since hurting his hamstring in the first quarter of the Oakland game on Oct. 16. He has not had a full week of practice in team drills since then, though he practice in a limited role on Friday. Montario Hardesty and Chris Ogbonnaya also are active. Hardesty has not played since suffering a calf muscle tear early in the San Francisco game on Oct. 30. So this will be the first game Hillis and Hardesty are active since Oct. 16. The Browns would not say which running back would start. A spokesman said all would play."
Peyton Hillis now game-time decision for game Sunday vs. Bengals
November 26
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis might not miss his sixth consecutive game after all. After being ruled out by coach Pat Shurmur earlier this week, Hillis practiced Friday for the first time since Nov. 4 and is now listed as questionable on the team's injury report. Shurmur said it will be a game-time decision whether Hillis plays when the Browns (4-6) visit the Cincinnati Bengals (6-4) on Sunday. "Nothing surprises me," Shurmur said. "I think we've crossed that bridge already." Hillis injured his left hamstring Oct. 16 against the Oakland Raiders and hasn't played since. He tried to return in early November, but he aggravated his hamstring during practice. Shurmur didn't expect Hillis to"
Peyton Hillis returns to practice, hopes to play Sunday against Bengals
November 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis had a stunning turnaround this week in his recovery from a pulled hamstring and expects to play Sunday in Cincinnati. "I'm looking very positive for this game and hopefully everything will work out and I'm praying that it will," Hillis said. "We don't want to push it too fast but we're all shooting for this Sunday. I'm excited I feel 100 percent again." Browns coach Pat Shurmur had on Monday ruled Hillis out of the game, thinking he was at least a week away. But after Hillis' unexpected improvement, he upgraded Hillis on Friday to a game-time decision. On Thursday, the Browns put Hillis through a rigorous workout after practice and he came through it"
Peyton Hillis might practice
November 25
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Running back Peyton Hillis was listed as a nonparticipant after the Browns practiced Thursday, but that could change today. Hillis has been ruled out for the Browns' road game Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Still, he appears to be on the verge of practicing for the first time since Nov. 4, when he aggravated his injured left hamstring, which will keep him sidelined for the sixth consecutive game. "Peyton went through a rigorous workout afterward and performed extremely well," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "He is making great progress, and he may be limited in practice on Friday." In addition to Hillis, fullback Owen Marecic (concussion), defensive end Jayme Mitchell (ankle),"
Browns RB Peyton Hillis and SS T.J. Ward both ruled out for Jacksonville
November 14
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur ruled out running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and safety T.J. Ward (foot) for Sunday's game against the Jaguars. But he said he hopes both players will be back this season and that he doesn't have plans at this point to place either of them on injured reserve. He said Ward will have his cast changed today and have another X-ray, and "then we'll see how to proceed'' with him."
Peyton Hillis ruled out for St. Louis game, but not for season
November 8
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns are making every effort to keep running back Peyton Hillis on the active roster and not on injured reserve, which would end his season. He's already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Rams with the pulled hamstring he re-injured in practice on Friday. The MRI showed a significant strain. "Here's where we're at with Peyton: We want him to get healthy," said coach Pat Shurmur. "We talked about him this morning like we talked internally about the players that were injured yesterday. Our conversation about Peyton was 'how do we proceed to get him back as quickly as possible?' That's where we are." Shurmur said he talked to his players about revealing to Yahoo! sports last"
Browns weary of Peyton Hillis drama, prepared to let him go after season, sources say
November 6
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns are near the end of their rope with running back Peyton Hillis and are prepared to let him walk in free agency after this season, NFL sources said. At this point, it would take a dramatic turnaround in behavior and production for Hillis to persuade the Browns to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent in March. "It's one thing after another, and what's been out there isn't even the half of it," one source said. And now, Hillis is expected to miss at least a couple of more games after re-injuring his hamstring in practice Friday afternoon. Hillis had an MRI on Friday, and it showed a significant strain to his left hamstring. Hillis got hurt in the first 15 minutes of practice,"
Browns growing weary of drama surrounding Peyton Hillis, prepared to let him go after season, sources say
November 5
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The Browns are near the end of their rope with running back Peyton Hillis and are prepared to let him walk in free agency after this season, NFL sources said. At this point, it would take a dramatic turnaround in behavior and production for Hillis to persuade the Browns to re-sign him when he becomes a free agent in March. "It's one thing after another, and what's been out there isn't even the half of it," one source said. And now, Hillis is expected to miss at least a couple of more games after re-injuring his hamstring in practice Friday afternoon. Hillis had an MRI on Friday, and it showed a significant strain to his left hamstring. Hillis got hurt in the first 15 minutes of practice,"
Peyton Hillis to miss at least a couple of weeks after re-injuring hamstring today during practice
November 4
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis will be out at least a couple of weeks after re-injuring his hamstring in practice today, a source said. An MRI this afternoon revealed that he significantly aggravated the muscle. It happened early in practice on a run up the middle. Hillis came up limping on the play, grabbing at his left hamstring. He fired the ball to the ground, then threw his helmet down in frustration."
Peyton Hillis concedes season has been 'a humbling experience'
November 4
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"A year ago, Peyton Hillis wore cowboy boots and an aw-shucks grin whenever he spoke in a corner of the Browns' locker room. He talked about wrestling hogs and pulling pick-up trucks for workouts back in his tiny Arkansas hometown. He endeared himself to Cleveland fans with his brash running style, and surprised opponents with his physical rushing performances. These days, the Madden NFL 12 cover boy has to face hordes of cameras and reporters to defend missed charity appearances, missed games with injury and illness, whether he'll sign a contract extension and whether he's still accepted by his own teammates. Nothing is off-limits, as the 25-year-old Hillis even is asked about his abrupt"
Browns' Hillis, Massaquoi look ready; big test awaits Haden
November 4
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"If their participation in practice Thursday is any indication, it looks like the Browns could have the services of running back Peyton Hillis (hamstring) and wide receiver Mohamed Massaquoi (concussion) on the road Sunday against the Houston Texans. Both players returned to practice; both made it through without any setbacks. Hillis took snaps with the first-team offense and did not appear slowed by the pulled left hamstring that has forced him to miss the Browns' past two games. That was not the case last week, when Hillis tried to give it a go and re-injured the hamstring during practice. "I went through warm-ups really well," Hillis said of the attempt last week. "I was cutting on it"
Browns RB Peyton Hillis apologizes for missing Boys and Girls Club appearance, received misinformation
November 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis apologized today for missing the Cleveland Boys and Girls Club Halloween party that he was supposed to attend Monday night, attributing it to misinformation he received. Hillis failed to show up for the event, which was 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the club on Broadway. Former Browns offensive lineman LeCharles Bentley, who's on the club's board, had secured a commitment from Hillis' brother and business agent, Kyle Hillis."
How Peyton Hillis won Cleveland -- and is losing it
November 3
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Bill Livingston
"Has anyone in this city lost so much goodwill so quickly and in such uncertain circumstances as Peyton Hillis? Wednesday, the Browns' running back apologized for missing a Boys and Girls Club appearance on Halloween, assigning blame to miscommunication with his "management," which in Hillis' case is his brother, Kyle. Even with that overdue gesture, Hillis is not the same player who won Browns fans' hearts last year, either on or off the field. At least he did not say he had the miscommunication with LeCharles Bentley, the former Brown who set up the Boys and Girls Club appearance. Bentley has tried to give back to his hometown, even after his Browns career lasted one snap in training camp"
Browns RB Peyton Hillis idle today with hamstring injury; status for Houston game uncertain
November 2
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis sat out practice today with his pulled hamstring, and his status for the Houston game Sunday is uncertain. Hillis, receiver receiver Mohamed Massaquoi and defensive back Ray Ventrone all walked inside with the trainers as reporters were coming out to watch the early open part of practice. At his 11:45 a.m. press conference, Shurmur seemed hopeful that Hillis would be able to practice at least on a limited basis. He said, "he'll be out there. We just have to see how much he can do.''"
Browns running back Peyton Hillis sits out another practice; Mohamed Massaquoi out of Sunday's game
October 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis sat out practice again Friday with his pulled hamstring and is questionable for the 49ers game, and receiver Mohamed Massaquoi was ruled out with his concussion. But tight end Ben Watson returned to the practice field Friday after also suffering a concussion against the Seahawks and worked with the first-team offense. He's listed as questionable, but should be available for duty against the 5-1 49ers. "(Hillis) ran inside," said coach Pat Shurmur, who brought Hillis along on the trip. "He was able to run. He'll be available to play and if he can play, he'll play." Watson, who also suffered a concussion early in training camp, isn't exactly sure when he"
Talk of a curse is Madden-ing to Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns
October 29
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Peyton Hillis rolled his eyes and smirked at the notion that anything sinister might be at play this season, that some kind of dark shadow is following him, that the reason for injury, illness and missteps can be traced back to a video game. That there is truly such a thing as the "Madden Curse." "I'm not even worried about that," Hillis scoffed earlier this week. Joshua Cribbs looked as if he had just whiffed a nose full of manure when the suggestion was floated that Hillis' photo on the front of Madden NFL 12 might have anything to do with anything going on with the 3-3 Browns. "Curse? I don't believe in curses," Cribbs scoffed. Even Kathy Curran, a priestess and the owner of Lakewood's"
Running back Peyton Hillis misses practice
October 28
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis did not practice Thursday, sidelined again with a nagging hamstring injury he irritated Wednesday while trying to practice with the team for the first time in 12 days. Hillis' inability to get back out on the practice field on consecutive days leaves his status for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers in doubt. "I'm hopeful he [plays]," Browns coach Pat Shurmur said. "But I can't say. We'll have to see, because he got a little sore from practicing [Wednesday]. We'll have to see how he progresses the next couple of days." If Hillis can't go against the 49ers, it will be the third game he has missed in the first seven this season. Hillis missed the"
Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis out again with sore hamstring
October 28
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The beat goes on for Browns running back Peyton Hillis. He will miss practice today with a sore hamstring after he had limited work in Wednesday's practice. Coach Pat Shurmur said he was still hopeful Hillis would be active Sunday in San Francisco against the 49ers. On Wednesday, Hillis talked of the "humbling" season he has endured and said there was still time for him to make something of it. "I talked to him this morning. I think he's hanging in there, taking this thing day to day, trying to get healthy. I don't sense frustration," Shurmur said."
Browns running back Peyton Hillis ready to stop talking about contract, return to field
October 27
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Peyton Hillis has already missed two games this year for health reasons. Yet the reigning Madden cover boy still feels there's plenty of time remaining to salvage the season. "There's a lot of time," said Hillis, who was sidelined with a hamstring injury for last week's 6-3 win over Seattle and practiced for the first time Wednesday. "That's on me. Getting healthy and producing, I put that on myself." Producing like he did last year when he became the only Browns player in history to rush for more than 1,000 yards, record 50 receptions and score at least 10 touchdowns as the feature back in a run-oriented offense? Probably not."
Peyton Hillis calls season 'humbling,' but he's eager to rejoin Cleveland Browns' starting lineup vs. 49ers
October 27
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"We now return to the ongoing saga of Peyton Hillis. In this week's episode, the Browns' running back returns to the field after missing a week of practice and a game with a hamstring injury. "He's our starting halfback, if he's able to go," said coach Pat Shurmur. In Hillis' absence, the Browns ran the ball 44 times in Sunday's 6-3 squeaker over the Seattle Seahawks. No. 2 back Montario Hardesty drew praise for carrying the rock a season-high 33 times, often smashing into a wall of defenders without losing it. For the first time, the Browns concluded that rushing the ball for 3.2 yards per carry was a more efficient means of moving the chains than throwing for 5.4 yards per pass attempt."
Pat Shurmur said Peyton Hillis (hamstring) will practice today, start in San Fran if healthy
October 26
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns coach Pat Shurmur said running back Peyton Hillis will return to practice today from his pulled hamstring "and will start'' in San Francisco if he's healthy enough to play. "He's our starting halfback,'' said Shurmur. He said he's confident Hillis will be able to block out the distractions of his tumultuous season and focus on playing his best football. Hillis was replaced last week by Montario Hardesty, who gained 95 yards on 33 carries and caught both passes thrown his way."
Browns RB Peyton Hillis out for Seahawks game, CB Joe Haden active
October 23
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Peyton Hillis is out for today's game with his pulled hamstring and cornerback Joe Haden will play despite being listed as questionable with his sprained left knee. Montario Hardesty will start in place of Hillis and linebacker Kaluka Maiava will replace Scott Fujita, who was ruled out on Friday with his concussion. Hillis suffered the pulled hamstring early on in the Raiders game last week. He returned to action for two plays in the fourth quarter to help out on pass protection, but realized "it wasn't the smartest idea.'' Hillis, who also missed the Dolphins game with strep throat, is having a down season. He is ranked 34th in the NFL with 211 yards on 60 carries for a 3.5-yard average."
Mike Holmgren says talks with RB Peyton Hillis, team set to let him become a free agent
October 21
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns President Mike Holmgren revealed Thursday that talks to extend Peyton Hillis' contract are at a standstill and that the team is set to let him become a free agen after the season. "I don't think anybody pushed anybody against the wall on contract talks and said 'we're done,' but right now, it's kind of quiet,'' said Holmgren. "Let's let Peyton play, let the dust settle and see what happens.''"
Browns RB Peyton Hillis still day-to-day, will sit out practice today, run in pool
October 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis will sit out practice again today, but is still day-to-day. He'll run in the pool today, along with defensive back Ray Ventrone, who also suffered a pulled hamstring. Coach Pat Shurmur had hoped Hillis could do some light running on Wednesday, but he wasn't ready. Shurmur said none of the injured players has been ruled out for Seattle yet, including cornerback Joe Haden (sprained knee), linebacker Scott Fujita (concussion), and cornerback Buster Skrine (hip)."
Cleveland Browns President Mike Holmgren says talks with RB Peyton Hillis at a standstill right now
October 20
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns President Mike Holmgren said today that talks with running back Peyton Hillis are at a standstill right now. "Things are kind of quiet right now,'' he said. "Let's let the dust settle and see what happens.'' He said "no one has called off contract negotiations'' but that the Browns tried to extend Hillis' contract and it didn't happen. "Now he needs a great year to reach his goals,'' said Holmgren."
Health, not drama, is at the heart of the Peyton Hillis-Cleveland Browns relationship
October 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 columnist Terry Pluto
"Question: Why would ESPN report the Browns would "listen" to trade offers for Peyton Hillis, despite coach Pat Shurmur saying they had no plans to trade Hillis? Answer: Because it's Tom Heckert's job to listen to trade offers ... for anyone. Q: So why were the Browns trying to trade Hillis? A: They weren't. As far as I know, they didn't have a serious discussion about trading him. But any general manager should have been working the phone right up until Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline. This is not like baseball; very few trades are made during the NFL season."
Trade deadline passes with Peyton Hillis still with Cleveland Browns
October 19
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"The NFL trading deadline came and went without the Browns trading running back Peyton Hillis. Just as they said would happen. But the hours leading up to the deadline extended the drama that has become Hillis' second season with the Browns. Early in the afternoon, ESPN's Chris Mortensen reported the Browns "could be persuaded" to deal Hillis. Later Fox Sports' Jay Glazer tweeted that the Browns have received "some inquiries" about Hillis, but told teams they weren't interested."
Peyton Hillis is not on the trading block
October 18
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Pat Shurmur emphasized Monday that Peyton Hillis is not on the trading block and that he did, indeed, suffer a pulled left hamstring during Sunday's loss to the Raiders. "That's an easy one -- you can be assured that he had a hamstring injury," said Shurmur. The trading deadline is 4 p.m. Tuesday, and Hillis -- who's still far apart on a contract extension with the Browns -- will still be in Cleveland when the sun goes down. "I don't want to talk about trades, but no, he's not on the trading block," said Shurmur. Hillis underwent an MRI Monday. "It's hard to say [how long Hillis might be sidelined]," Shurmur said. "Those injuries can take a couple of days or they can take however"
Cleveland Browns RB Peyton Hillis admits he probably could've played vs. Miami, but agent advised against it
October 11
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Peyton Hillis admitted Monday that he probably would've tried to play against the Dolphins on Oct. 2 if his agent hadn't advised against it. "He was just looking out for me," said Hillis of agent Kennard McGuire. "That's what he's there for, so I have to give him thanks, too. Because I'm stubborn and hardheaded and I like to go out there and play even though I was probably not up for it." Conversely, Hillis said if McGuire had endorsed playing with the strep throat and flu-like symptoms, he would've heeded that advice. "By the way I was feeling, I just needed somebody else's opinion," said Hillis. "If he'd have said, 'Peyton, you probably can do your thing,' I'd have listened to that. But"
Browns RB Peyton Hillis worries he might not have long-term future in Cleveland
October 11
Akron Beacon Journal
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis met with reporters today after practice to discuss his feelings about his contract negotiations with the organization. Hillis is in the final year of his rookie deal and is scheduled to make a base salary of $600,000 this season. When asked if he's starting to doubt whether he'll have a long-term future in Cleveland, Hillis said, "Yeah, that definitely worries me." Hillis' agent, Kennard McGuire, told the Associated Press last week that Hillis feels underappreciated."
Peyton Hillis must put aside his fears for future with Cleveland Browns
October 11
Akron Beacon Journal
 columnist Marla Ridenour
"Peyton Hillis is worried. Not about the controversy that won't seem to die over him sitting out the Browns' Sept. 25 home game against the Miami Dolphins with strep throat. Hillis, a 25-year-old running back, fears he doesn't fit into the team's plans for the future because his agent has failed to reach an agreement with the Browns on a contract extension. The Browns' 2010 workhorse is concerned he'll be displaced by Montario Hardesty, a second-round pick in 2010 that the Browns traded up to acquire. Hardesty's extensive action in the second half of the Browns' last game against the Tennessee Titans only exacerbated Hillis' fears. "Whenever something's not set in stone I guess anything's"
Browns' Peyton Hillis Tweets his defense for absence
October 7
Cleveland Plain Dealer
 
"Browns running back Peyton Hillis – in two Tweets on Thursday night – once again defended his decision not to play against the Dolphins on Sept. 25. His first Tweet read: "I love the fans of Cleveland . . . the city that gave me a chance. I play hard in every play of every game.""